The mark of a top racer is the ability to win regardless of conditions. The weekend's third round of the UCI XC World Cup at Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, showed that Gunn-Rita Dahle and Julien Absalon have that ability - it couldn't have been more difference from the previous weekend's race in Madrid.
The main difference was the weather. Madrid was hot and dry. Spa was so wet in the days leading up to the race that the organisers had to shift substantial parts of the course on to paved roads, and even with the course changes the racers were faced with difficult conditions and lots of running. It was business as usual in the women's race, with Dahle first off the line, gradually extending her lead during the race and winning with a two-minute margin. Irina Kalentieva is known as a good mud rider, and she took second place. Marie-Helene Premont was third, despite a poor start.
As in Madrid, a huge men's field made the start pretty fraught. 250 riders lined up at Spa, and with a wide, paved start straight funnelling into tight singletrack, getting up the front early on was essential. Filip Meirhaeghe (returning to racing this year after a suspension for EPO use) was first into the narrow stuff. Usual front-runner Christoph Sauser and Liam Killeen got tangled up in the crowded start and had to spend the whole race passing people to get back near the front. Sauser managed to haul himself all the way up to seventh despite two punctures. Up at the front, Meirhaeghe faded to fourth while Julien Absalon went to the front and managed to eke out a small lead over Jose Antonio Hermida for his second win in two weeks.
Not a great day for the Brits - Killeen was 22nd and Oli Beckingsale 25th. Both will be racing on home ground next weekend at Fort William, though - give 'em a cheer...
Results
Men
| 1 | Julien Absalon (Bianchi Agos) | 2:14:53 |
| 2 | Jose Antonio Hermida (Multivan Merida) | 2:15:20 |
| 3 | Ralph Näf (Multivan Merida) | 2:17:06 |
| 4 | Filip Meirhaeghe (Groep Versluys-Sportstech-Landbouwkredie) | 2:18:29 |
| 5 | Roel Paulissen (Giant) | 2:20:03 |
|
| 22 | Liam Killeen (Specialized) | 2:24:57 |
| 25 | Oliver Beckingsale (Giant) | 2:25:34 |
Women
| 1 | Gunn-Rita Dahle (Multivan Merida) | 1:36:51 |
| 2 | Irina Kalentieva | 1:39:01 |
| 3 | Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain Business Objects) | 1:40:03 |
| 4 | Sabine Spitz (Specialized) | 1:41:19 |
| 5 | Lene Byberg (Bikin' Cyprus Int.) | 1:41:38 |
Overall standings
Men
- Julien Absalon (700)
- Bart Brentjens (475)
- Christoph Sauser (460)
- Ralph Naf (450)
- Roel Paulissen (430)
- Liam Killeen (352)
Women
- Gunn-Rita Dahle (750)
- Sabine Spitz (490)
- Margarita Fullana (120)
- Irina Kalentieva (426)
- Marie-Helene Premont (405)
